Film faces ban over rape scene

Controversial French film Irreversible may be banned in Australia later this month after complaints from the Australian Family Association and the Reverend Fred Nile.

The film, directed by Gaspar Noe, was released in Australia last month with an R18+ rating. It is now being investigated by the Classification Review Board.

Most of the criticism of Irreversible centres on a graphic and extremely violent nine-minute rape scene.

The confronting film tells a troubling story about fate and the wrong choices made by three decent people during a single night of partying that plunge them into a nightmare.

"The high impact of the violence in this film was so great that large numbers of people walked out during screenings, despite being warned of the content in advance," Mr Nile said in a press release last month.

While many film reviewers have told of the shock of seeing Irreversible, the co-host of SBS television's Movie Show, Margaret Pomeranz, is outraged at the suggestion it should be banned.

"Here we go again," Ms Pomeranz said.

"Another film acknowledged internationally as a serious work of cinema is questioned by various pressure groups in this country about its suitability for viewing by adults.

"It just makes you weep. How narrow are we going to become in Australia?"

If it is banned, Irreversible will join US film Ken Park, which was banned from Australian screens last year because of its depictions of teenage sex, incest and auto-erotic asphyxiation.

And in 2002, the explicit French film Baise Moi was banned after complaints its R18 classification was too soft.

Irreversible was first released in Australia on Thursday February 12 to above average box office figures, with a screen average in Sydney and Melbourne of $10,427 on its opening weekend.

The film has previously been released in over 21 territories worldwide, including the United States and the United Kingdom, completely uncut and as originally edited by its acclaimed director.

Distributor Accent Film Entertainment said the classification review had come as a blow to domestic film distributors after a successful six-week season in Sydney and Melbourne.

"It is not just the film we are in the position of defending, and this is not just about banning one film, this is about an attack on freedom of speech and freedom of artistic expression."

Accent Film Entertainment general manager George Papadopoulos acknowledged the graphic nature of the film.

"While we acknowledge the topical nature of the film in light of recent high-profile allegations of sexual violence, Irreversible depicts the horrific consequences of such violence," Mr Papadopoulos said.

The film was unanimously passed by The Office of Film and Literature Classification prior to its release.

The Classification Review Board hearing is due to take place on Monday, March 29, at which time a decision will be made on whether or not to ban the film.